Kurt grew up in Pittsburgh, PA with parents who were not horse people, but were very supportive of their son’s interest in the sport of eventing. His start in horses began at age 5, when he asked for a pair of cowboy boots for his birthday. After being fitted for the boots, Kurt asked the man at the counter if he knew of a place where he could ride a horse. Sensing his strong interest, his parents began looking for a place for Kurt to take some riding lessons.
Beginner riding lessons soon gave way to the purchase of a family pony for Kurt’s father’s 40th birthday. The whole family rode this pony, who was aptly named A Key to Your Heart (AKI).
Growing up, Kurt continued to take lessons and competed in Pony Club. At age 15, Kurt competed in his first 2* (current 3* level) and went on to the North American Young Rider Championships, which he competed at five times. He did his first Advanced horse trials at age 18 aboard the stoic Amusing One.
Upon finishing school, Kurt chose to enter the horse business full time and worked in several barns (riding with professionals such as Jimmy Wofford, Phillip Dutton and David O’Connor) to gain experience, eventually settling in Middleburg, VA where he became known as an excellent rider and instructor, putting horsemanship above all else.
Today, he trains client horses, teaches his devoted students, and develops talented horses that are aimed at competing at international events for Team USA. Kurt has won at the two star, three star and four star levels and has top ten finishes at the five star level. His favorite venue to compete at to date is Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.
He comments, “It’s [all] a lot of work, but it’s really rewarding, and I’m very dedicated to every single day—the care, the riding and the future of everything". He has had a lot of international success already with three top horses, Anna Bella, Delux Z and D.A. Lifetime, and he is excited to develop his talented young horses into top international competitors within a few years. “I feel like the older I get, the more into it I am, the hungrier [I am],” he said. “Some of the young ones I have now really seem to show potential to go all the way or be team horses. I look to other people to guide me now because I want to be the best that I can be. I don’t feel that I’ve learned enough yet.”
Beginner riding lessons soon gave way to the purchase of a family pony for Kurt’s father’s 40th birthday. The whole family rode this pony, who was aptly named A Key to Your Heart (AKI).
Growing up, Kurt continued to take lessons and competed in Pony Club. At age 15, Kurt competed in his first 2* (current 3* level) and went on to the North American Young Rider Championships, which he competed at five times. He did his first Advanced horse trials at age 18 aboard the stoic Amusing One.
Upon finishing school, Kurt chose to enter the horse business full time and worked in several barns (riding with professionals such as Jimmy Wofford, Phillip Dutton and David O’Connor) to gain experience, eventually settling in Middleburg, VA where he became known as an excellent rider and instructor, putting horsemanship above all else.
Today, he trains client horses, teaches his devoted students, and develops talented horses that are aimed at competing at international events for Team USA. Kurt has won at the two star, three star and four star levels and has top ten finishes at the five star level. His favorite venue to compete at to date is Blenheim Palace International Horse Trials.
He comments, “It’s [all] a lot of work, but it’s really rewarding, and I’m very dedicated to every single day—the care, the riding and the future of everything". He has had a lot of international success already with three top horses, Anna Bella, Delux Z and D.A. Lifetime, and he is excited to develop his talented young horses into top international competitors within a few years. “I feel like the older I get, the more into it I am, the hungrier [I am],” he said. “Some of the young ones I have now really seem to show potential to go all the way or be team horses. I look to other people to guide me now because I want to be the best that I can be. I don’t feel that I’ve learned enough yet.”